Goodbye Townhouse

Yipee! I can officially say we are moving. Two weeks from today we are loading up and making the long awaited move. I don't even want to think about how much packing is going to go down between now and then, but I know that it will be well worth the hard work. I will have to post a pic of the new house soon. So stay tuned. =)

GOT AN OFFER!

Well, we finally got an offer on our house that we are currently in. Too bad it was a stinky offer. They totally came in and tried to LOW BALL us. But, hey...we don't have to move! So we are standing firm near our current price. I know, some would think it is crazy to stay up there but we have already taken it off the market before and lowered the price that what we listed it as. I am just excited that we can now say that "WE GOT ONE!" We shall see what happens....

Surprise! Happy Birthday! 80 & 90 =)

At the age of 80 my grandmother will be having her FIRST "surprise" party ever. I am pretty positive she will not find out about it since I am letting out the news online. This Sunday we have decided to invite the family, her friends from church, and her neighborhood friends. She thinks she is going to a Retirement Party for my mom but little does she know that people will be there to celebrate her. I am so excited for her! So Happy Early Birthday MamMaw D who will be 80 years young. While I am mentioning birthdays, I will go ahead and give an early Birthday shout-out for my other grandmother. In December she will be turning 90. Wow can you believe 90? That is awesome! We are also in the process of planning a party for her as well. Everyone in the family and from her church will be there. We are excited because my Aunt and Uncle that live in Germany are going to come to town for the party and then stay for Christmas this year. We are always thrilled when they get to come "to town" because we don't get to see them very much. Happy Early Birthday to MamMaw R who will be 90 years young. Here is a pic of both of them this past weekend. They weren't too excited about getting on a boat but we finally talked them into a quick ride and then they loved it. They look great!

2 Weeks from Thursday

It is official, we have to do our frame walk through two weeks from Thursday. =( At this time we need to have our house sold or it goes on the market for other James Hill lookers. Charles went out there today to check on things and some of the workers were sprawled out all through the house to take their nap after lunch. I wish I got to take a nap after lunch. It is finally down to CRUNCH time.

House Update

Here is a picture showing the progress of our house. Your first thought is probably "Yay" it is getting close, but we are thinking "slow down". We still haven't sold our house and in a matter of weeks we have to get it sold or it isn't ours anymore. Yes it is sad to think of it that way but it is reality. We don't really have any serious lookers at our house but hopefully the right one will come along and get here fast. My favorite looker so far has been a lady looking for a space to hold her Grand Piano. Hmmm...In a townhouse? Of course our space wasn't big enough. Haha! I guess some people really don't use that noggin' up there. The best part is the fact that we hid out in our car to see who was coming. I felt like we were secret agents. =) Anyways, keep your fingers crossed that we will have a buyer super soon.

Meet Mrs. Marsh

That's the intimidating Mrs. Marsh. Yeah right. Not the best picture for the yearbook but it was a funny picture so I thought I would share it with yall. Of course, I will certainly have lots of fun stories straight from the classroom, not the press. It makes me sad that I can't post pictures of my precious kiddies but take my word for it, they would make your heart melt. Each day that I head off to my job I constantly remind myself that the kids that walk through the doors of our school are totally different from me culturally but we are all the same at heart. We all have the need to be loved. How quick they are to say "I love you!" in hopes to hear the simple phrase said back to them with a smile. How easy it is to forget how enormously blessed I truly am. I can honestly say that I take PRIDE and great JOY in knowing that I am an educator, a friend, a mommy, a sister, a nurse, a comforter, an ear to listen, a pat on the back and so many other roles to these kids. To some of them, something I may "say" or "not say" could make all the difference in the world to the future of that child. Each day I ask that you would pray that God would use me in any way possible to touch the lives of each student I come in contact with. Some days are of course going to be tough to love unconditionally but I know it is what I am called to do. I know that one day, the kids that I have now will be out on their own and I want them to remember someone who stopped "teaching" long enough to truly get to know them.

Fun Things Heard

Since I have had kiddies for five days now, I have heard some really funny stuff. Just wanted to share some with you guys. To get the full effect you might have to ask me to demonstrate using their personalized voices. I have gotten really good at sounding like them. =) The kids are so precious and they make me laugh so much. On to phrases and words I have heard over the past few days. "What.. why you gotta do that? Why you gotta get that big'O eraser out and take words off my page?"...."I wanna go home"..."I don't like you anymore"--followed by a hug and smile..."Mrs. Marsh, we haven't gone to the bathroom yet"---- ......."D-A-N-G" in slow-mo but the not so nice word was used instead of the one I typed---this followed a discussion about the Olympics being in China. I brought out the globe and showed them how far away the country was and I heard the first cuss word of the year. Hopefully the last!...."Mrs. Marsh, we have off days on Saturday and Sunday."....I wanted to say, "believe me I KNOW" but I just smiled and said "Yes, that is correct."...and last for today, "Mrs. Marsh, you are my favorite teacher ever." =)

106

One Hundred and Six is my new favorite number! I am of course kidding. I wanted to come up with a little jingle with the number but I have moved on. I got my duty assignment at school today and the number has just gotten me tickled. I have to make light of the fact that out of 180-something days i have "double duty" (both morning and afternoon duty) 106 of those days. I wonder if I get paid extra. That would make me grin from ear to ear. I really don't mind working the extra time but I do think it is funny that it is pretty much for the whole year. I LOVE MY JOB! And my PEEPS I work with! So, I guess i will "do my time" and continually remind myself to NEVER do second load bus duty without a few extra muscles for those "rowdy" times. (That's another story that I have put behind me to protect the UN-innocent.)

Summing up the First Day Back

Wake-Up Early, Iron my really wrinkly faculty shirt, Gulp a glass of Chocolate Milk =), Rush out the door, Come back in the door (forgot something), A 20 min. drive, Sign-IN, Get my class Roll (at the 8:00 Bell), Walk 7 down the long hall, Meet the Parents, Smile at the Kids, Sort through supplies, Practice classroom procedures and guidelines, Get to know the kids, More kids come in (up to 14 now), Of course a Potty Break for the little ones, Fun Activities, Lunch time, Gain 1 more (up to 15), Time for Running and playing (Recess), Water Break, Math Mat, Power goes out (twice), Track parents down for dismissal routes, Pick up and clean up, Get Bags, Chairs UP, Group time for reflection, 1st load bus, walkers, front door, back door, 2nd Load, Faculty Meeting, Sit and BREATHE, Sign-Out. Officially through with the first day of school! Now it's time for BED! Sleeply Time!

The Time Has Come

Well, yep it is "Back To School Time". All the children that live within city limits (at least we hope) come tomorrow to find their special seat. Of course some will come with parents who are eager to "meet the teacher" and others will get dropped off at the front door to enter into the learning community alone. T-minus less than 24 hours and I still do not have a final class list. I am sure tomorrow will be full of countless challenges but I know that by the end of the day those kids will have been in a safe, secure, and nurturing environment for a full 8 hours. That is HUGE! I can't wait to see their smiling faces! I know, I have to remind myself that tomorrow they will be sweet, quiet, and charming for the very first day and then the next day I will really get to know their personalities. BRING IT! =)

Moving Right Along

The construction men working on our house have made tremendous leaps in progress since I last mentioned. I was shocked myself how quickly things are moving. Last week when we took a trip out there, they had put the boards up around the ground to pour the concrete. We went by there to check on it Tuesday and the concrete had been poured and they had already framed the main level. We totally missed the step of them pouring the concrete. We made a second trip out there late Tuesday night. (Not recommended!!!) I am not sure how I agreed to shining our car lights on the lot to walk through the house. I made it through the entry way, ran through all the rooms in the house and then jetted back to the car. I was like a gazelle sprinting as I was trying to get back to the safety of my car with locked doors. Charles just stood in the area of the dinning room and was completely baffled. I can only imagine what I looked like trying to take a quick peek of each room and then leaving him there to stand alone and laugh at me. I couldn't help it! It was dark! Needless to say late night trips out there have been vetoed by ME and will no longer take place. Charles stopped by yesterday after work and they had made the steps that will lead to the second level. My educated guess is that the second floor will be framed pretty soon. Oh and I have been unsuccessful at posting pictures from my computer. It's just not working out for me. Not sure why but hopefully I will figure out the problem soon so I can have visual aids.

All Boxed Up

So our lot is officially Boxed Up! To those who aren't familiar with contractor lingo (which I didn't know what it stood for either)it means that they are about to pour the concrete for the foundation. I took a trip out there since my days of sleeping in and having SO much free time is almost over. It's official I only have one more week until I return to my four-walled room of primary colors. =) Anyways, I will post pictures later of the progress of our future house (that is if we can sell our current one). Stay tuned!

What? That is Awesome!

This morning I woke up to the familiar sound of a text message. My friend Steph sent me a message from the airport in Kentucky. Of course she knows how much I LOVE dogs so she informed me of a woman who walked up to the terminal with a Doggie Stroller. Yes, I do believe a stroller for a dog is a little much but I just had to see a picture. Stinky that I don't know how to upload a picture from my phone but you guys will have to settle on a picture I found online. I mean, I keep wondering if that lady just got to walk on the plane with the stroller and sit holding her dog as if it were a child. Did she have to pay for a child's ticket? The best question yet....I wonder if I got a doggie stroller (and of course a puppy to go in it) would it help my fear of flying? Probably not, but it might be a good excuse to get my sweet husband to finally get me a puppy. =)

Old English Style

Keeping in mind the amount of time on my hands, I have decided to take up a new hobby. SMOCKING =) I haven't started yet, but I have been reading up and educating myself about the embroidery technique. I have always wanted to learn how to sew but I guess I will start here. A few facts: developed in England, used most extensively in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, a variety of variations and patterns. There is probably a certain pattern that you start off with, but I want to skip a few steps and learn how to do Picture Smocking (most commonly seen these days). My schedule of learning may be way off but hey I can dream BIG! Of course I don't have a single item to begin so I definitely need to have a materials list the next time I venture into Hobby Lobby.

Summer Free Time =)

Well, I have decided to blog. I have had so much free time this summer I seem to have nothing else to do. Haha! All this computer online blogging stuff is new to me but it is very interesting. So I say yay to being a blogster! I am joining the club. =)